Improvement in apparatus for treating cane-juice



G. B. TAYLOR. Apparatus for Treating Cane-Juice.

No. 140,443, PatentedJu|y1,1873..

W'Inessps: CZ Inventor: 2 1% 2 4,

I Annmeys.

A in. PHOTO 'L If H 0 GRAPHIC C0, N. X OEBORNEli PROCESS- cape of the gas thereby.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

GEORGE O. TAYLOR, OF THIBODEAUX, LOUISIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR TREATING CAN-JUICE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 140,443, dated July 1, 1873; application filed March 29, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE O. TAYLOR, of Thibodeaux, in the parish of La Fourche and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and Improved Condensing-Machine for Bleaching Cane-Juice or other Liquids with Splphnrom or other Gases, and process of impregnating the juice with the same, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a front view of my improved condensing-machine, showing the conducting-pipe for the sulphurous gas and the driving-wheels; and Fig. 2 is avertical longitudinal section of the same, showing interior arrangement.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of my invention is to construct an improved condensing-machine for sugar plantations and chemical establishments, by which cane-juice and molasses maybe rapidly bleached without allowing the escape of sulphurous gases from the machine to the other parts of the building. The annoyance arising to workmen from the escape of gases is prevented by my machine, and the thorough action of the sulphurous acid on every particle by a process of impregnation of the juice obtained.

By a fan-wheel the required supply of gas is regulated, and the action of the same on the juice eifected by a centrifugal or spray wheel in connection with a reacting arch and absorbing shelves, producing a thorough contact of the gas with the greatest surface of juice.

In the drawing, A represents the outer casing of the condensing-machine of rectangular shape with one corner rounded ed in the shape of an arch. Casing A is made of wood or other suitable material, and constructed in such a manner that the sulphurous gases cannot escape. The supply-tube B admits the juice by a slot in the bottom of the casing A to the interior thereof, and prevents any es- The juice after having passed through the machine is discharged by means of a spout, O, and conducting-trough D at the base of the arched part, and forces its way by a slot in the same manner as on gas. A conductingpipe, E, communicates with the furnace when the sulphurous-acid gases are generated, and enters at the side near the central part of the casing A. A shaft, to, turning inlsuitable journals, has a pulley, b, keyed outside the casing, which connects with the drivingwheel d by ropes 0, being held thereonby idler f, and transmits the motive power to the fan-wheel F, and spraying or centrifugal wheel G keyed inside of easing A to shaft a. The fan-wheel F increases the draft of the fumes into the machine, and hereby the condensation of the gas. When onlyasmall feed ofjuice passes through the machine the spraying-wheel creates a sufii'cient draft for slight condensation. The valve 9 and escapepipe h at the top of the machine carry off the excess of fumes and regulate the degree of condensation. Valve g is left open when the machine is not in motion, and allows the fumes from the furnace to escape wit-bout annoying the laborers. In the interior of the machine, below the arched part, which is constructed concentrically to the shaft a of the wheel 9, is arranged below discharge-spout-O the wall or body H, which connects with the bottom part of the casing by a tangential arc, i, also concentrical to shaft a. The vertical continuation of are i ends in the projecting piece k, which serves to collect thejuice dripping down from the arched top. The paddles l of the along are i, carrying up with them the canejuice entering from supply trough B. The juice is thrown along the tangential extension to the arched top, and thegreater part thrown forward -by reaction, falling on absorbingshelves I arranged suitably above supplytrough B. The absorbin g-shelves I are placed under slight inclination to each other, so that the sulphurous gas can act thoroughly on the juice when passing over the shelves. The action of the gas of sulphurous acid not being instantaneous, like chlorine, requires a longer exposure of the juice. The continuous action of the centrifugal wheel G on the juice, combined with the spraying and passing over the shelves, allows the gas to operate on every particle of the juice; the same operation is con tinued. till the juice is bleached in a satisfacentering, preventing thereby any escape of tory manner. A door, at, may be applied at spraying-wheel G pass near the bottom and the narrow part of easing A in front of the shelves I, and a dripping shelf, n, applied above it to prevent leakage. At the top of the door suitable glass windows may be arranged, so that the operation of the apparatus may be superintended through them.

This apparatus may also be used advantage-' '1. The fan-wheel F and spraying-wheel G 1, arranged as specified, to be rotated together on the shaft to by means described, and thus cause the supply or current of gas admitted through pipe E to be proportional to the amount of juice raised by the wheel.

2. The shelves I I, alternated and inclined, as shown, to cause the cane-juice to flow froni one to the other, spaces being provided for admission of gas and circulation thereof beneath each shelf, as shown and described.

3. The rotating spraying-wheel G l and the series of absorbing-shelves I, all arranged to operate as specified.

GEORGE O. TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

R. R. MCBRIDE, F. H. LEGENDRE. 

